Free Online Biography Books, Memoirs & Autobiographies in Pdf & ePub

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The fascinating lives of others are lived again

If you want to learn more about a famous person or just get into the detail of someone else’s life, then you can download a memoir or biography book (and autobiography books) from obooko.

Autobiography books give us the real account of what actually happened as the author is also the main character. We get a true window into someone else’s world. Take a look at Life in the Shadows of a Corporate Lawyer to get the story of the struggles of a lawyer with alcohol problems at time when getting corporate counsel positions was very difficult unless you were part of the old boy’s network.

Sometimes a biography will give us a perspective of a world changing event from someone who was there. Singing Magic tells the story of a Canadian girl who moved to South Africa during the ending of apartheid and brings us a fresh view of what real, normal people were going through at this time of change. We gain insight to what things were really like, unedited by news media.

There is no better way to satisfy your curiosity about other people than reading a book about them. Learn how they think and what drives them to do the things they do and use that knowledge to influence your own life – in some cases memoir books can be like having your own mentor, laying out the values to follow. In other cases, it might be a lesson in what not to do.

There are many biography books at obooko and this just gives a flavour of the diverse range of online story books that are available. Some will inspire you to want to do great things, others will make you sad and want to cry. Maybe some will make you angry enough to shout. What is certain is that you will get something to keep you wanting to turn the page and read more. Download these memoir and biography books from obooko today.

All titles in this category are legally licensed for free download in PDF ePub, & Kindle Formats.

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What’s new: June 2024

This update features five new essays, including historian and activist Howard Zinn, model Anna Nicole Smith, theatre critic Claudia Cassidy, and painters Maynard Dixon and Doris Lee.

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Howard Zinn

Howard Zinn (1922 – 2010) attracted a large following with engaging prose that inspired readers from the mainstream of liberalism to consider ideas from much further to the left. His book ‘A People’s History of the United States: 1942–Present’, first published in 1980, framed the American story as the relentless pursuit of power and profit by an elite one percent at the expense of everyone else. It resonated in popular culture: the book was touted in the Oscar-winning movie Good Will Hunting, and characters on The Simpsons and The Sopranos were shown reading it.

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June 27, 2024, what’s new: june 2024, may 23, 2024, what’s new: may 2024.

This update features five new biographies including Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins; Boston civil rights activist Ruth Batson; New York City journalist and writer Pete Hamill; and influential (and humorous) newspaper columnists Molly Ivins and Russell Baker. 

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This update features five new biographies, including the “Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin; management consultant, author, and professor Peter Drucker; pioneering African American psychologist Keturah Whitehurst; University of Pennsylvania philosopher William T. V. Fontaine; and folk singer and labor activist Aunt Molly Jackson.

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Top Free Biographies - Comprehensive List

The best biography books, boswell's life of johnson, james boswell, a mind that found itself: an autobiography, clifford whittingham beers, famous men of the middle ages, john h. (john henry) haaren, autobiography of andrew carnegie, andrew carnegie, random reminiscences of men and events, john d. (john davison) rockefeller, letters of the late ignatius sancho, an african, ignatius sancho, real soldiers of fortune, richard harding davis, twelve types, g. k. (gilbert keith) chesterton, famous impostors, bram stoker, the memoirs of victor hugo, victor hugo, the story of cole younger, by himself, cole younger, brave men and women: their struggles, failures, and triumphs, osgood e. (osgood eaton) fuller, of six mediæval women; to which is added a note on mediæval gardens, alice kemp-welch, the triumphs of perseverance and enterprise, recorded as examples for the young, thomas cooper, irish memories, martin ross, my father as i recall him, mamie dickens, famous affinities of history, marie bashkirtseff (from childhood to girlhood), marie bashkirtseff, the life of mrs. robert louis stevenson, nellie van de grift sanchez, society as i have found it, ward mcallister, the chronicles of a gay gordon, j. m. (joseph maria) gordon, beatrice d'este, duchess of milan, 1475-1497, julia cartwright, life of john sterling, thomas carlyle.

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Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey is a prominent figure in modern American media. An actress, talk show host, television producer, and philanthropist, she is best known for her talk show, “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” which aired for 25 seasons and is still the highest-rated daytime talk show in American television history. With a hand in all forms of media from film to publishing and writing, online, and radio, Winfrey remains a force in the field today as the head of the Oprah Winfrey Network.

biographies online free

Stevie Wonder

One of the most successful musicians of the 20 th century, Stevie Wonder notably secured his first recording contract at 11 years old. He quickly rose to prominence as a pop and R&B artist, releasing hits such as “Isn’t She Lovely,” “Superstition,” “You Are the Sunshine of My Life,” and “I Wish.” Today, Wonder is credited with selling over 100 million records worldwide. He has been inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and The Songwriters Hall of Fame. Also known for his work as an activist, Wonder was named a United Nations Messenger of Peace.

Philanthropist, business leader, and tech giant, Bill Gates co-founded Microsoft in 1975 with a mission to put “a computer on every desktop and in every home.” More than 40 years later, Microsoft has exceeded its goal across the globe and continues to be a technological hub of innovation. Today, Gates focuses his efforts on the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing resources and support in the areas of health, poverty, and education.

Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, most notably lauded for leading the country through the Civil War and issuing the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. He was a self-taught lawyer and a formidable leader and speaker. Among some of the most famous moments in all of American history was President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address speech in 1863 and his assassination at Ford’s Theatre in 1865.

Jackie Robinson

A trailblazer in American sports history, Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier as the first black athlete to play Major League Baseball in the 20th century. He started on first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, was named Rookie of the Year, the National League Most Valuable Player, and played in six World Series. The youngest of five children in a family of sharecroppers, Robinson rose to prominence as a dedicated athlete and a pioneer in the fight for civil rights.

Edgar Allan Poe

An influential figure in American literature, Edgar Allen Poe helped to shape the genres of science fiction, detective fiction, and mystery. He made a living as a writer, editor, and literary critic and published one of his most well-known pieces, “The Raven” in 1845, making him a household name. Today, Poe is accredited as an early architect of the short story.

Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol was a visionary artist, director, and producer who has greatly influenced contemporary American culture. His work ranged in form, including performance art, film making, video installations, writing, and illustrating. He gained recognition as a commercial artist, and in the 1960s pioneered the iconic concept of pop art, meant to focus on the mass-production and consumption of goods that was taking over at the time. As a famous and talented artist in his time, Warhol worked with glamorous subjects such as Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Mick Jagger, and Jackie Kennedy Onassis.

Elizabeth Blackwell

The first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States, Elizabeth Blackwell was a leader and a prominent figure in women’s involvement in medicine. A native of Bristol, England, Blackwell spent much of her time in both the United States and England, reforming the medical field on an international scale to allow for women’s contributions. She established the New York Infirmary for Women and Children in the United States in 1857 and the London School of Medicine for Women in England in 1874.

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Inside you’ll find the world’s most successful professionals from around the globe as well as prominent historical figures, entertainers, politicians, sports stars, and today’s most influential leaders. Updated daily, you’ll search through MBO with the confidence of knowing that you are using the most accurate biographical research tool available.

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Free Online Autobiographies – Subject Names I, J, K, L

Free Online Autobiographies PDF - Subject Names I, J, K, L

Free online autobiographies, biographies I, J, K, L. One webpage of more than a dozen with many free online biographies and memoirs.

Go to the Biography Main Page for our collections, a list of all our individual biographies, and links to the other biography pages on Century Past .

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Biographies of subjects i, j, k and l, iacocca: an autobiography, iacocca, lee.

Iacocca grew up in Allentown, Pennsylvania, going to work for Ford Motor Co. in 1946. He transferred to the company’s Dearborn, MI headquarters about 1956, where he move up the ranks to President in 1970. However, he was fired by owner Henry Ford II in 1978. He was then hired by Chrysler to save that company, as it was nearly bankrupt. He brought Chrysler back from the brink and became a national celebrity in the process. His autobiography was a huge best-seller.

Iacocca, Lido Anthony (1924-2019)

Ibsen (literary lives), gosse, edmund william, scribner 1908 dewey dec. biography.

“A temperate but appreciative study of Ibsen’s peculiar genius, the influence molding it and its significance in the development of Norwegian literature and culture.” — A.L.A. Catalog 1926

Ibsen, Henrik (1828-1906)

Life and letters of washington irving, vol 1, irving, pierre munroe, putnam 1883 dewey dec. biography.

“The standard complete life.” — A.L.A. Catalog 1926

Irving, Washington (1783-1859)

See our biography reference books, recollections of a foreign minister, iswolsky, alexander petrovich, doubleday 1921 dewey dec. biography.

Careful pictures of men and events in Russia from 1905 to 1917 as seen by the minister of foreign affairs, a moderate liberal who saw his country the unhappy victim of the extremes. — A.L.A. Catalog 1912-1921.

Iswolsky, Alexander Petrovich (1856-1919)

Isabella d’este, marchioness of mantua, 1474-1539, a study of the renaissance, vol 1, ady, julia mary (cartwright), dutton 1923 dewey dec. biography.

“Records the brilliant life and achievements of “a typical child of the Renaissance,” a woman remarkable for her beauty, her promotion of art and letters, and her statesmanship. “Isabella will be long remembered as the fairest and most perfect flower of womanhood which blossomed in the immortal days of the Italian Renaissance.”” — A.L.A. Catalog 1926

Isabella d’Este, Consort of Giovanni Francesco II, Marquis of Mantua (1474-1539)

Andrew jackson (american statesmen), sumner, william graham, houghton 1917 dewey dec. biography.

“An able critical treatment of Jackson’s part in the political and financial history of the United States from 1824 to 1840. An excellent brief life.” — A.L.A. Catalog 1926

Jackson, Andrew, U.S. President (1767-1845)

Stonewall jackson (american crisis biographies), white, henry alexander, macrae-smith 1909 dewey dec. biography.

“An excellent biography, based on original sources, earlier lives and the official records. Valuable on the military side.” — A.L.A. Catalog 1926

Jackson, Thomas Jonathan (1824-1863)

The letters of william james, vol 1, james, henry, ed., atlantic monthly 1920 dewey dec. biography.

“The whole man, with his wide interests in philosophy, medicine, painting, and writing, as well as the home and Harvard life, is admirably disclosed in his letters, pencil sketches and in the biographical sketch by his son.” — A.L.A. Catalog 1926 “What letters! The letters of Lamb, of Edward Fitzgerald, are not more delightful. The best of them, naturally, are to philosophers and men of letters, who evoked from him an amazing multiplicity of ideas and to whom he let fly a delicious compound of sound reason and jocularity.” “In what other collection of letters shall we find a writer so swift, so vivid, so varied and so spontaneous? James reveals to us all his moods. his likes and dislikes, his communing with the universe, his fun. Unintentionally, he writes his autobiography, in which we trace his intellectual development.” – The Book Review Digest.

James, William (1842-1910)

Jean jaures, socialist and humanitarian, pease, margaret, huebsch 1917 dewey dec. biography.

This book has been written to acquaint English readers with the socialist editor, author, orator and parliamentary leader whom J. Ramsay Macdonald, in his introduction, calls “the greatest democratic personal force in Europe – even in the world,” and who, after having spent the last day of his life in a vain effort to avert the war, was assassinated on July 31, 1914. Chapter 1 gives “a. short sketch of the man and his career.” Succeeding chapters on Socialism, Jaures and the Dreyfus case, Socialist methods, “The new army,” and International peace, while giving Jaures’s views and actions, necessarily also contribute much to the history of French socialism. “Many hoary old calumnies are brought forward against Catholicism.” – The Book Review Digest

Jaures, Jean (Auguste Marie Joseph Jean Léon Jaurès) (1859-1914)

John jay (american statesmen), pellew, george.

“An unusually clear picture of the Revolutionary period and the two succeeding decades, which abounds in excerpts from Jay’s correspondence.” — A.L.A. Catalog 1926

Jay, John (1745-1829)

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Maid of France. Being the story of the life and death of Jeanne D’Arc

Lang, andrew, longmans 1908 dewey dec. biography.

“An exhaustive, scholarly work, the most complete and critical biography in English. The author’s issue with Anatole France’s conception of the Maid in Vie de Jeanne d’Arc gives the narrative a controversial tone that detracts from its interest for general reading.” — A.L.A. Catalog 1926 “Mr Lang’s own conception of Jeanne is very simple and uncompromising: she was gifted with ‘genius’ which should be the marvel of the world while the world stands’; she was not only brave, saintly and a natural leader of men, but of a high intelligence. … He will have nothing to do with the theory of clerical inspiration; he holds that . . . she was as far as possible from the ordinary type of the mystic or hysteric.” – Standard Catalog for Public Libraries : Biography Section (1927)

Jeanne d’Arc, Saint (1412-1431)

Joan of arc, lowell, francis cabot, houghton 1896 dewey dec. biography.

Distinctly the best thing in the English language on the life and career of the Maid of Orleans. Based on latest French authorities. — A.L.A. Catalog 1904 “Mr Lowell’s design is to exclude the legendary element by stating just what is known of Joan’s actual life and achievements. The result is that her personality stands out pure, strong and simple without artificial light.” – Standard Catalog for Public Libraries : Biography Section (1927)

Thomas Jefferson (American statesmen)

Morse, john torrey.

“Chiefly devoted to Jefferson’s official career after 1790 – his relations to Washington, Hamilton, Randolph, and Burr, to the Louisiana purchase, and to the embargo – receiving particular attention. Based on Randall’s Life and Jefferson’s Works .” — A.L.A. Catalog 1926

Jefferson, Thomas, U. S. President (1743-1826)

Thomas jefferson (figures from american history), muzzey, david saville, scribner 1918 dewey dec. biography.

“This book is pleasing because it is a smooth-flowing narrative stressing fairly all of the outstanding events in the career of America’s first great party leader.” “A brief, lucid, impartial résumé. The author combines enthusiasm for the merits of his subject, without which a good biography cannot be written, with a keenly critical judgment of Jefferson’s limitations.” “Long familiarity with American political history with its shifting perspective, has given Dr Muzzey an excellent background for this scholarly and useful work.” – The Book Review Digest

Along This Way; the Autobiography of James Weldon Johnson

Johnson, james weldon, viking 1933 dewey dec. 973.91.

Autobiographies online free.

Johnson, James Weldon (1871-1938)

Sir william johnson and the six nations (makers of america), griffis, william elliot, dodd 1891 dewey dec. biography.

Practically Indian history of Mohawk valley. Dwells longest on earlier and less generally known portion of Johnson’s life and gives but cursory review of later and more active years. — A.L.A. Catalog 1904

Johnson, William, 1st Baronet (1715-1774)

Life and letters of john paul jones, vol 1, de koven, anna (farwell), scribner 1913 dewey dec. biography.

“A most thorough biography based on extended research and original sources. It is interesting and though not impartial is in the main convincing.” — A.L.A. Catalog 1926

Jones, John Paul (1747-1792)

Letters of a javanese princess, kartini, raden adjeng, knopf 1920 dewey dec. biography.

A fine-spirited vigor pervades this record of the struggles of a regent’s daughter against traditional restrictions in obtaining her education and in working for the emancipation of her country-women. Pictures oriental social life and attitudes. — A.L.A. Catalog 1912-1921.

Kartini, Raden Adjeng (1879-1904)

John keats, his life and poetry, his friends, critics and after-fame, colvin, sir sidney, scribner 1917 dewey dec. biography.

“This careful, thorough, tactful, and exhaustive work renders obsolete all previous expressions of opinion upon Keats; it deserves, indeed, to be labelled with the final word, ‘definitive.’” “It is a book to read with delight; better still, it is a book that compels one to turn back and reread the poet himself.” “Manifestly a labour of love, this admirable work illuminated throughout with thorough knowledge and fine critical acumen, deserves to take high rank in the select company of kindred classics. But the book is not only of absorbing interest as a masterly presentment of the poet and his work; it also teems with vivid studies of the circle in which he lived.” – The Book Review Digest

Keats, John (1795-1821)

The story of my life, by helen keller, with her letters (1887-1901) and a supplementary account of her education, including passages from the reports and letters of her teacher, a. m. sullivan, keller, helen adams, doubleday 1914 dewey dec. biography.

“Letters and experiences of the courageous girl, blind and deaf from infancy, who educated herself despite these handicaps.” — A.L.A. Catalog 1926 “The book is indeed unique. The story itself and the years of effort which have made its telling possible, the personality which it reveals, and the creation of that personality,—these are things which seem little short of miraculous. The narrative of a young woman who has been deaf and blind from infancy is written in a style which is not only idiomatic, but individual and rhythmical. As one reads, one forgets to make allowances for limitations which are apt to slip out of sight, until a chance phrase recalls one with a start to the realization that the mind which deals so freely and normally with the ordinary factors of human life dwells forever in silence and the dark.” – Standard Catalog for Public Libraries : Biography Section (1927).

Keller, Helen Adams (1880-1968)

Memoirs of an american prima donna, kellogg, clara, putnam 1913 dewey dec. biography.

“A volume of entertaining reminiscences presenting ‘vivid pictures of her life on the operatic stage of America and Europe from the year 1861, when she made her debut to the time of her retirement from the stage. . . . in 1887.” – Standard Catalog for Public Libraries: Biography Section (1927) “This story of the first American prima donna presents an interesting picture of operatic life in Europe and America and introduces many noted singers and men of letters.” — A.L.A. Catalog 1926.

Kellogg, Clara Louise (1842-1916)

George kennan: a writing life, congdon, lee.

“In this wise and penetrating book, Lee Congdon takes us on a wonderfully engaging journey through Kennan’s life, writing, and mind. He not only demonstrates that Kennan had a profound European sensibility and sense of tragedy, but he also demonstrates that Kennan represented the very best of American character and integrity. Congdon concludes that in wisdom and character, Kennan was the greatest American of the twentieth century.” – James Kurth, Swarthmore College

Kennan, George Frost (1904-2005)

Simon kenton; his life and period 1755-1836, kenton, edna, garden city: doubleday, doran 1930.

Simon Kenton was a living legend on the frontier in Kentucky and the Ohio country, as famous in his time as Daniel Boone and George Rogers Clark; both of whom he knew well. He was an army scout, soldier, hunter, Indian fighter, farmer, and land speculator, and a friend to numerous families on the frontier. This biography was written from an enormous collection of documents, letters and interviews assembled for decades by the 19th century historian Lyman Draper, who never got around to writing the biography of Kenton that he planned.

Kenton, Simon (1755-1836)

Between the dying and the dead: dr. jack kevorkian’s life and the battle to legalize euthanasia, nicol, neal and wylie, harry, university of wisconsin 2006.

“Dr. Kevorkian gained international notoriety in the 1990s for his passionate advocacy of choice for terminal patients, who have increasingly won the right to decide the time, place, and method of their own death in several Western countries. In 1998 he assisted Thomas Youk, a terminally ill patient suffering from Lou Gehrig’s disease, with a lethal injection that was broadcast on CBS’s ’60 Minutes’. Immediately thereafter, Kevorkian was arrested, charged with second-degree murder, tried, and sentenced to 10-25 years in Michigan’s maximum-security prison system… Here, finally, is his own life story, as told to Neal Nicol and Harry Wylie.” – Book jacket

Kevorkian, Jacob (1928-2011)

Let the trumpet sound: the life of martin luther king, jr., oates, stephen b., new american library 1984 dewey dec. 973.91, king, martin luther (1929-1968), memoirs of a revolutionist, vol 1 – autobiographies online free, kropotkin, peter, houghton 1899 dewey dec. biography.

Published in Atlantic monthly Sep. 1898-Sep. 1899 under title The autobiography of a revolutionist. Graphic details of Russian conditions and of an eventful life. — A.L.A. Catalog 1904 “Kropotkin’s story is a singularly rich, diversified, and romantic one, and it is attractively told. Nothing more interesting in its way has ever been written than the chapters relating his prison life and escape. The book abounds in instructive pictures of Russian life and character, done with unconscious art.” – Standard Catalog for Public Libraries : Biography Section (1927).

Kropotkin, Pyotr Alexeyevich, Prince (1842-1921)

The true la fayette, morgan, george, lippincott 1919 dewey dec. biography.

“The book describes not only the life of La Fayette, but the France of his time and the French revolution. The contents are: At Chavaniac—a lordling of Auvergne; College, court, camp; For human rights—the American revolution: Campaigning in America; Before the outbreak; La Fayette in the French revolution; His crisis and his critics; Five years in dungeon depths; In Napoleon’s time; The great tour—5000 miles in America; His last revolution (1830); At La Grange — last days.” “Mr Morgan’s interesting book paints for us a vivid and living picture of this hero’s career.” – The Book Review Digest

Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Roch Yves Gilbert de Motier, Marquise de (1757-1834)

Ring lardner: a biography, elder, donald, ny: doubleday 1956.

An American sports columnist and short story writer widely known for his satirical writings about sports, marriage and the theatre. The author grew up with Lardner in Niles, MI.

Lardner, Ringgold “Ring” Wilmer (1885-1933)

Life and letters of sir wilfrid laurier, vol 1, skelton, oscar douglas, toronto: oxford university 1921 dewey dec. biography.

The official biography, the work of a partisan admirer, of one of the greatest statesmen in Canada.

Laurier, Wilfrid (1841-1919)

Robert e. lee and the southern confederacy, 1807-1870 (heroes of nations), putnam 1902 dewey dec. biography, lee, robert edward (1807-1870), iron eagle: the turbulent life of general curtis lemay, coffey, thomas m..

“In World War II he was so daring, ingenious, and effective, first against the Germans and then the Japanese, that he became America’s most famous air commander – in the minds of most experts the greatest this country has ever produced… He devised some of the most innovative aerial strategies of the Second World War, including the low-level B-29 attacks that devastated Japan. After the war LeMay instituted the Berlin Airlift … And later he developed the Strategic Air Command, America’s first line of defense and deterrence.” -Book jacket

LeMay, Curtis Emerson (1906-1990)

Of things natural, wild, and free: a story about aldo leopold, lorbiecki, marybeth.

A biography of the pioneer in wildlife conservation and author of “A Sand County Almanac.”

Leopold, Aldo (1886-1948)

David letterman, lefkowitz, frances, chelsea house 1997.

A biography of the late-night television talk show host, comedian, and comedy writer who first appeared nationally in 1978 on the Tonight Show.

Letterman, David M. (1947 – )

Liberace: an american boy, pyron, darden asbury, university of chicago 2000.

“Arguably the most popular entertainer of the twentieth century, this very public figure nonetheless kept more than a few secrets. Born in the Midwest to Polish-Italian immigrant parents, he was a child prodigy who, by the age of twenty, had performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Abandoning the concert stage for the lucrative and glittery world of nightclubs, celebrities, and television, Liberace became America’s most popular entertainer. While wildly successful and good natured outwardly, Liberace, Pyron reveals, was a complicated man whose political, social, and religious conservativism existed side-by-side with a lifetime of secretive homosexuality. Even so, his swishy persona belied an inner life of ferocious aggression and ambition.” -Publisher

Liberace (1919-1987)

Abraham lincoln. (american statesmen), vol 1.

“A condensed but clear presentation, careful of facts and inviting confidence.” — A.L.A. Catalog 1926

Lincoln, Abraham, U. S. President (1809-1865)

A short life of abraham lincoln condensed from nicolay & hay’s abraham lincoln: a history, nicolay, john george, century 1903 dewey dec. biography.

[The Nicolay & Hay book is] “… the standard authoritative life of Lincoln, by two men who knew and served Lincoln in an official capacity. Nicolay’s Short life of Abraham Lincoln is an excellent abridgment.” — A.L.A. Catalog 1926 “The authors, as private secretaries to President Lincoln, stood in most intimate and confidential relations with him, and had his approval of this history for which they began to prepare during the war. Their work is really a history of the period with Lincoln as the central figure, particular attention naturally being given to the political struggle preceding the war, and to the narrative of military events.” – Standard Catalog for Public Libraries : Biography Section (1927)

For much more on Abraham Lincoln, see the Lincoln page on this website, containing free online biographies, works by Lincoln, speeches, historical analysis and fiction.

Mary todd lincoln: a biography, baker, jean h., norton 1987 dewey dec. 000, lincoln, mary ann todd (1818-1882), liszt and his music, hervey, arthur, lane 1911 dewey dec. biography.

“An admirable account of Liszt the man, the composer, conductor and teacher, giving most space to his compositions and the influence of his personality.” — A.L.A. Catalog 1926

Liszt, Franz (1811-1886)

My story of the war: a woman’s narrative of four years personal experience as nurse in the union army …, and in relief work at home, in hospitals, camps, and at the front, during the war of the rebellion. with anecdotes, pathetic incidents, and thrilling reminiscences portraying the lights and shadows of hospital life and the sanitary service of the war, livermore, mary a., hartford, ct: worthington 1889 dewey dec. 973.7.

The title suggests this is a 1st person account by a Civil War nurse, but it goes well beyond that. When Mary Livermore prepared to write this book, two decades after the war, she draw upon a large personal archive of her correspondence and articles she had written for publication. Besides being a volunteer nurse she was a highly skilled writer and apparently also served in important administrative roles in the Sanitary Commission that ran the Union hospitals. In addition to stories of nursing experiences, the book contains, at minimum, pen portraits of soldiers and other personalities, military history, and considerable information about the operations of the Sanitary Commission.

Livermore, Mary Ashton Rice (1820-1905)

The life of david livingstone, blaikie, william garden, london: murray 1911 dewey dec. biography, livingstone, david (1813-1873), the life and labors of david livingstone, ll.d, d.c.l., covering his entire career in southern and central africa. carefully prepared from the most authentic sources … a thrilling narrative of the adventures, discoveries, experiences and achievements of the greatest explorer of modern times in a wild and wonderful country, grandgent, charles hall, jones 1918 dewey dec. biography, mr. lloyd george, raymond, edward thompson, doran 1922 dewey dec. biography.

“A careful and searching study animated by a desire to understand the statesman and the man. It is kept constantly interesting by the author’s lightness of touch, swift irony, and power of keen analysis.” — A.L.A. Catalog 1926

Lloyd George, David (1863-1945)

Lombardi: his life and times, wells, robert w., prairie oak: 1997.

Biography of football coach Vince Lombardi, who became famous in Wisconsin as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers in the 1960s.

Lombardi, Vince (1913-1970)

Book of jack london, vol 1, london, charmian, century 1921 dewey dec. biography.

“London’s early life, his struggle to find self-expression in writing, and his varied and adventurous experiences as man and author portrayed in part through his letters.” — A.L.A. Catalog 1926 “Those of us who knew Jack London ever so slightly feel that in her book Charmian London has given us a life-sized portrait of the man. More than that, as his wife she has held herself up to him as the mirror for his personality; and in her love, her devotion, her understanding, we see Jack London as it would have been impossible for us to see him through any other medium. ‘The Book of Jack London’ will be an inexhaustible source for other studies of Jack London that may come.” – Standard Catalog for Public Libraries : Biography Section (1927)

London, Jack (1876-1916)

Joe louis: heavyweight champion, jakoubek, robert e., chelsea house 1990.

A biography of Joe Louis describing his youth in a Detroit ghetto, his rise to heavyweight champion and major sports hero, and his role in destroying the myth of racial inferiority. (Real name: Joseph Louis Barrow)

Louis, Joseph (1914-1981)

Autobiography of st ignatius, loyola, ignacio de, st., ed. by j.f.x. o’conor, benziger 1900 dewey dec. biography.

The founder of the Roman Catholic Jesuit order (Society of Jesus).

Loyola, Ignacio de, St (1491-1556)

Ignatius loyola; an attempt at an impartial biography, sedgwick, henry dwight, macmillan 1923 dewey dec. biography.

“An English biography by a non-Catholic who has ignored traditions and sought his material from original sources. He tells of Loyola’s youth, his conversion, his education in Spain and France, and his ascetic life in Venice and Rome. After the founding of the Society of Jesus, in 1539, the book deals largely with the history of that body, with closing chapters on the character and last days of Loyola.” — A.L.A. Catalog 1926

Loyola, Ignacio de, Saint (1491-1556)

Here i stand: a life of martin luther, bainton, roland h., new american library 1950 dewey dec. 000, luther, martin (1483-1546), martin luther, the man and his work, mcgiffert. arthur cushman, century 1911 dewey dec. biography.

“A convenient and trustworthy treatment of Luther for the general reader.” — A.L.A. Catalog 1926 “A ‘plain and literal tale’ of Luther as a man and as an influence upon his times. In dealing objectively with his personality and his work the study becomes purely historical and offers no theological contentions to arouse religious animosity. . . All the light that modern research can throw on the great reformer has been employed.” – Standard Catalog for Public Libraries : Biography Section (1927)

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Have you ever wanted to know more about the famous artists behind some of the world’s most famous works of art? The Mona Lisa, the statue of David, and many more Italian works of art are some of the worlds most famous, but who created them?

We may know the names of the artists but Knights of Art by Amy Steedman delves into the lesser known lives of the names behind the fame. This book will show you a relatively unknown side to famous artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo, Giovanni Bellini and several others.

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FreeEBooks.com offers a wide selection of biographies, autobiographies, and authorized biographies amongst many other genres to choose from.

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Free Biography Books. Find biographies, autobiographies, and authorized biographies all free to download. We have a large selection of different biographies of many famous figures.

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The 30 Best Biographies of All Time

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The 30 best biographies of all time.

The 30 Best Biographies of All Time

Biographer Richard Holmes once wrote that his work was “a kind of pursuit… writing about the pursuit of that fleeting figure, in such a way as to bring them alive in the present.”

At the risk of sounding cliché, the best biographies do exactly this: bring their subjects to life. A great biography isn’t just a laundry list of events that happened to someone. Rather, it should weave a narrative and tell a story in almost the same way a novel does. In this way, biography differs from the rest of nonfiction .

All the biographies on this list are just as captivating as excellent novels , if not more so. With that, please enjoy the 30 best biographies of all time — some historical, some recent, but all remarkable, life-giving tributes to their subjects.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the number of great biographies out there, you can also take our 30-second quiz below to narrow it down quickly and get a personalized biography recommendation  😉

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1. A Beautiful Mind by Sylvia Nasar

This biography of esteemed mathematician John Nash was both a finalist for the 1998 Pulitzer Prize and the basis for the award-winning film of the same name. Nasar thoroughly explores Nash’s prestigious career, from his beginnings at MIT to his work at the RAND Corporation — as well the internal battle he waged against schizophrenia, a disorder that nearly derailed his life.

2. Alan Turing: The Enigma: The Book That Inspired the Film The Imitation Game - Updated Edition by Andrew Hodges

Hodges’ 1983 biography of Alan Turing sheds light on the inner workings of this brilliant mathematician, cryptologist, and computer pioneer. Indeed, despite the title ( a nod to his work during WWII ), a great deal of the “enigmatic” Turing is laid out in this book. It covers his heroic code-breaking efforts during the war, his computer designs and contributions to mathematical biology in the years following, and of course, the vicious persecution that befell him in the 1950s — when homosexual acts were still a crime punishable by English law.

3. Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow

Ron Chernow’s Alexander Hamilton is not only the inspiration for a hit Broadway musical, but also a work of creative genius itself. This massive undertaking of over 800 pages details every knowable moment of the youngest Founding Father’s life: from his role in the Revolutionary War and early American government to his sordid (and ultimately career-destroying) affair with Maria Reynolds. He may never have been president, but he was a fascinating and unique figure in American history — plus it’s fun to get the truth behind the songs.

Prefer to read about fascinating First Ladies rather than almost-presidents? Check out this awesome list of books about First Ladies over on The Archive.

4. Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" by Zora Neale Hurston

A prolific essayist, short story writer, and novelist, Hurston turned her hand to biographical writing in 1927 with this incredible work, kept under lock and key until it was published 2018. It’s based on Hurston’s interviews with the last remaining survivor of the Middle Passage slave trade, a man named Cudjo Lewis. Rendered in searing detail and Lewis’ highly affecting African-American vernacular, this biography of the “last black cargo” will transport you back in time to an era that, chillingly, is not nearly as far away from us as it feels.

5. Churchill: A Life by Martin Gilbert

Though many a biography of him has been attempted, Gilbert’s is the final authority on Winston Churchill — considered by many to be Britain’s greatest prime minister ever. A dexterous balance of in-depth research and intimately drawn details makes this biography a perfect tribute to the mercurial man who led Britain through World War II.

Just what those circumstances are occupies much of Bodanis's book, which pays homage to Einstein and, just as important, to predecessors such as Maxwell, Faraday, and Lavoisier, who are not as well known as Einstein today. Balancing writerly energy and scholarly weight, Bodanis offers a primer in modern physics and cosmology, explaining that the universe today is an expression of mass that will, in some vastly distant future, one day slide back to the energy side of the equation, replacing the \'dominion of matter\' with \'a great stillness\'--a vision that is at once lovely and profoundly frightening.

Without sliding into easy psychobiography, Bodanis explores other circumstances as well; namely, Einstein's background and character, which combined with a sterling intelligence to afford him an idiosyncratic view of the way things work--a view that would change the world. --Gregory McNamee

6. E=mc²: A Biography of the World's Most Famous Equation by David Bodanis

This “biography of the world’s most famous equation” is a one-of-a-kind take on the genre: rather than being the story of Einstein, it really does follow the history of the equation itself. From the origins and development of its individual elements (energy, mass, and light) to their ramifications in the twentieth century, Bodanis turns what could be an extremely dry subject into engaging fare for readers of all stripes.

7. Enrique's Journey by Sonia Nazario

When Enrique was only five years old, his mother left Honduras for the United States, promising a quick return. Eleven years later, Enrique finally decided to take matters into his own hands in order to see her again: he would traverse Central and South America via railway, risking his life atop the “train of death” and at the hands of the immigration authorities, to reunite with his mother. This tale of Enrique’s perilous journey is not for the faint of heart, but it is an account of incredible devotion and sharp commentary on the pain of separation among immigrant families.

8. Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo by Hayden Herrera

Herrera’s 1983 biography of renowned painter Frida Kahlo, one of the most recognizable names in modern art, has since become the definitive account on her life. And while Kahlo no doubt endured a great deal of suffering (a horrific accident when she was eighteen, a husband who had constant affairs), the focal point of the book is not her pain. Instead, it’s her artistic brilliance and immense resolve to leave her mark on the world — a mark that will not soon be forgotten, in part thanks to Herrera’s dedicated work.

9. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Perhaps the most impressive biographical feat of the twenty-first century, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is about a woman whose cells completely changed the trajectory of modern medicine. Rebecca Skloot skillfully commemorates the previously unknown life of a poor black woman whose cancer cells were taken, without her knowledge, for medical testing — and without whom we wouldn’t have many of the critical cures we depend upon today.

10. Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

Christopher McCandless, aka Alexander Supertramp, hitchhiked to Alaska and disappeared into the Denali wilderness in April 1992. Five months later, McCandless was found emaciated and deceased in his shelter — but of what cause? Krakauer’s biography of McCandless retraces his steps back to the beginning of the trek, attempting to suss out what the young man was looking for on his journey, and whether he fully understood what dangers lay before him.

11. Let Us Now Praise Famous Men: Three Tenant Families by James Agee

"Let us now praise famous men, and our fathers that begat us.” From this line derives the central issue of Agee and Evans’ work: who truly deserves our praise and recognition? According to this 1941 biography, it’s the barely-surviving sharecropper families who were severely impacted by the American “Dust Bowl” — hundreds of people entrenched in poverty, whose humanity Evans and Agee desperately implore their audience to see in their book.

12. The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon by David Grann

Another mysterious explorer takes center stage in this gripping 2009 biography. Grann tells the story of Percy Fawcett, the archaeologist who vanished in the Amazon along with his son in 1925, supposedly in search of an ancient lost city. Parallel to this narrative, Grann describes his own travels in the Amazon 80 years later: discovering firsthand what threats Fawcett may have encountered, and coming to realize what the “Lost City of Z” really was.

13. Mao: The Unknown Story by Jung Chang

Though many of us will be familiar with the name Mao Zedong, this prodigious biography sheds unprecedented light upon the power-hungry “Red Emperor.” Chang and Halliday begin with the shocking statistic that Mao was responsible for 70 million deaths during peacetime — more than any other twentieth-century world leader. From there, they unravel Mao’s complex ideologies, motivations, and missions, breaking down his long-propagated “hero” persona and thrusting forth a new, grislier image of one of China’s biggest revolutionaries.

14. Mad Girl's Love Song: Sylvia Plath and Life Before Ted by Andrew Wilson by Andrew Wilson

Titled after one of her most evocative poems, this shimmering bio of Sylvia Plath takes an unusual approach. Instead of focusing on her years of depression and tempestuous marriage to poet Ted Hughes, it chronicles her life before she ever came to Cambridge. Wilson closely examines her early family and relationships, feelings and experiences, with information taken from her meticulous diaries — setting a strong precedent for other Plath biographers to follow.

15. The Minds of Billy Milligan by Daniel Keyes

What if you had twenty-four different people living inside you, and you never knew which one was going to come out? Such was the life of Billy Milligan, the subject of this haunting biography by the author of Flowers for Algernon . Keyes recounts, in a refreshingly straightforward style, the events of Billy’s life and how his psyche came to be “split”... as well as how, with Keyes’ help, he attempted to put the fragments of himself back together.

16. Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World by Tracy Kidder

This gorgeously constructed biography follows Paul Farmer, a doctor who’s worked for decades to eradicate infectious diseases around the globe, particularly in underprivileged areas. Though Farmer’s humanitarian accomplishments are extraordinary in and of themselves, the true charm of this book comes from Kidder’s personal relationship with him — and the sense of fulfillment the reader sustains from reading about someone genuinely heroic, written by someone else who truly understands and admires what they do.

17. Napoleon: A Life by Andrew Roberts

Here’s another bio that will reshape your views of a famed historical tyrant, though this time in a surprisingly favorable light. Decorated scholar Andrew Roberts delves into the life of Napoleon Bonaparte, from his near-flawless military instincts to his complex and confusing relationship with his wife. But Roberts’ attitude toward his subject is what really makes this work shine: rather than ridiculing him ( as it would undoubtedly be easy to do ), he approaches the “petty tyrant” with a healthy amount of deference.

18. The Passage of Power: The Years of Lyndon Johnson IV by Robert A. Caro

Lyndon Johnson might not seem as intriguing or scandalous as figures like Kennedy, Nixon, or W. Bush. But in this expertly woven biography, Robert Caro lays out the long, winding road of his political career, and it’s full of twists you wouldn’t expect. Johnson himself was a surprisingly cunning figure, gradually maneuvering his way closer and closer to power. Finally, in 1963, he got his greatest wish — but at what cost? Fans of Adam McKay’s Vice , this is the book for you.

19. Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Caroline Fraser

Anyone who grew up reading Little House on the Prairie will surely be fascinated by this tell-all biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder. Caroline Fraser draws upon never-before-published historical resources to create a lush study of the author’s life — not in the gently narrated manner of the Little House series, but in raw and startling truths about her upbringing, marriage, and volatile relationship with her daughter (and alleged ghostwriter) Rose Wilder Lane.

20. Prince: A Private View by Afshin Shahidi

Compiled just after the superstar’s untimely death in 2016, this intimate snapshot of Prince’s life is actually a largely visual work — Shahidi served as his private photographer from the early 2000s until his passing. And whatever they say about pictures being worth a thousand words, Shahidi’s are worth more still: Prince’s incredible vibrance, contagious excitement, and altogether singular personality come through in every shot.

21. Radioactive: Marie & Pierre Curie: A Tale of Love and Fallout by Lauren Redniss

Could there be a more fitting title for a book about the husband-wife team who discovered radioactivity? What you may not know is that these nuclear pioneers also had a fascinating personal history. Marie Sklodowska met Pierre Curie when she came to work in his lab in 1891, and just a few years later they were married. Their passion for each other bled into their passion for their work, and vice-versa — and in almost no time at all, they were on their way to their first of their Nobel Prizes.

22. Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter by Kate Clifford Larson

She may not have been assassinated or killed in a mysterious plane crash, but Rosemary Kennedy’s fate is in many ways the worst of “the Kennedy Curse.” As if a botched lobotomy that left her almost completely incapacitated weren’t enough, her parents then hid her away from society, almost never to be seen again. Yet in this new biography, penned by devoted Kennedy scholar Kate Larson, the full truth of Rosemary’s post-lobotomy life is at last revealed.

23. Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay by Nancy Milford

This appropriately lyrical biography of brilliant Jazz Age poet and renowned feminist, Edna St. Vincent Millay, is indeed a perfect balance of savage and beautiful. While Millay’s poetic work was delicate and subtle, the woman herself was feisty and unpredictable, harboring unusual and occasionally destructive habits that Milford fervently explores.

24. Shelley: The Pursuit by Richard Holmes

Holmes’ famous philosophy of “biography as pursuit” is thoroughly proven here in his first full-length biographical work. Shelley: The Pursuit details an almost feverish tracking of Percy Shelley as a dark and cutting figure in the Romantic period — reforming many previous historical conceptions about him through Holmes’ compelling and resolute writing.

25. Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life by Ruth Franklin

Another Gothic figure has been made newly known through this work, detailing the life of prolific horror and mystery writer Shirley Jackson. Author Ruth Franklin digs deep into the existence of the reclusive and mysterious Jackson, drawing penetrating comparisons between the true events of her life and the dark nature of her fiction.

26. The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit by Michael Finkel

Fans of Into the Wild and The Lost City of Z will find their next adventure fix in this 2017 book about Christopher Knight, a man who lived by himself in the Maine woods for almost thirty years. The tale of this so-called “last true hermit” will captivate readers who have always fantasized about escaping society, with vivid descriptions of Knight’s rural setup, his carefully calculated moves and how he managed to survive the deadly cold of the Maine winters.

27. Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

The man, the myth, the legend: Steve Jobs, co-founder and CEO of Apple, is properly immortalized in Isaacson’s masterful biography. It divulges the details of Jobs’ little-known childhood and tracks his fateful path from garage engineer to leader of one of the largest tech companies in the world — not to mention his formative role in other legendary companies like Pixar, and indeed within the Silicon Valley ecosystem as a whole.

28. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand

Olympic runner Louis Zamperini was just twenty-six when his US Army bomber crashed and burned in the Pacific, leaving him and two other men afloat on a raft for forty-seven days — only to be captured by the Japanese Navy and tortured as a POW for the next two and a half years. In this gripping biography, Laura Hillenbrand tracks Zamperini’s story from beginning to end… including how he embraced Christian evangelism as a means of recovery, and even came to forgive his tormentors in his later years.

29. Vera (Mrs. Vladimir Nabokov) by Stacy Schiff

Everyone knows of Vladimir Nabokov — but what about his wife, Vera, whom he called “the best-humored woman I have ever known”? According to Schiff, she was a genius in her own right, supporting Vladimir not only as his partner, but also as his all-around editor and translator. And she kept up that trademark humor throughout it all, inspiring her husband’s work and injecting some of her own creative flair into it along the way.

30. Will in the World: How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare by Stephen Greenblatt

William Shakespeare is a notoriously slippery historical figure — no one really knows when he was born, what he looked like, or how many plays he wrote. But that didn’t stop Stephen Greenblatt, who in 2004 turned out this magnificently detailed biography of the Bard: a series of imaginative reenactments of his writing process, and insights on how the social and political ideals of the time would have influenced him. Indeed, no one exists in a vacuum, not even Shakespeare — hence the conscious depiction of him in this book as a “will in the world,” rather than an isolated writer shut up in his own musty study.

If you're looking for more inspiring nonfiction, check out this list of 30 engaging self-help books , or this list of the last century's best memoirs !

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Biography Research Guide: Free Biography Sites

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Why Use These Free Sites

It is difficult to find verified, research material freely available on the open web (internet). Many results returned from a search engine give you unrelaible, duplicate information that is rarely backed up by research. The sites listed here are the best to use if you need to supplement what you found in our subscription databases. 

Best of the Free Biography Sites

  • Awesome Library - great site for kids; categories such as heroes, composers, ethnic groups, politicians, scientists etc.
  • American President - This website offers in-depth biographies of all US presidents. For each president, the biography starts with a Life in Brief profile, then proceeds to sections about Campaigns and Elections, Foreign Affairs, Impact and Legacy , and other topics.
  • The Biographical Dictionary - covers more than 28,000 notable men and women who have shaped our world from ancient times to the present day
  • Biographical Guide to Congress - standard in most library reference collections in print form; online edition covers 1774 - present. Search by name, state, party, year or Congressional session. Also guide to research collections where presidential papers are housed.
  • Biography Center - multi-lingual biographical dictionary; 11,011 biographies - also links to other sites
  • Biography.com - 25,000 of the greatest lives past and present. Presented by A & E Television Networks
  • Collective Biographies of Women  - thousands of women who were included in collective biographies
  • Dictionary of Canadian Biography - Available in English or French
  • Distinguished Women of the Past and Present - search by name or subject (chronological before the 20th century). Profiles of women who contributed to our culture in many different ways
  • Encyclopedia of World Biography - This website offers lengthy biographies of thousands of people from around the world, with an emphasis on famous people of the 20th century.
  • From Revolution to Reconstruction - historical persons related to American history from the colonial period until modern times.
  • History of Mathematics -Biographies - University of St. Andrews, Scotland, School of Mathematics and Statistics. Alphabetical and chronological indexes; also search just female mathematicians
  • Info Please - 30,000 biographical profiles and special features about newsworthy people around the world; searchable by name or subject category
  • Noble Prize Winners - Nobel Prize winners, by date or category; full biographies
  • Presidents of the U. S . - from the White House history site
  • POTUS: Presidents of the United States - background information, election results, cabinet members, notable events, and some points of interest on each of the presidents. Links to biographies, historical documents, audio and video files, and other presidential sites are also included to enrich this site from the Internet Public Library
  • Social Networks and Archival Context   - over 3.7 million biographical descriptions of people, both individuals and groups
  • Well Known People Who Happen to Be Canadian - actors, artists, journalists, etc.
  • Women's International Center - brief biographies, most with color picture
  • World of Scientific Biography - search by branch of science, gender, nationality, historical periods.

Links to More Free Sites

  • Biography Search Engines -  links to a multitude of sites; useful for specific categories such as Americans only, presidents, celebrities, deceased, women, British monarchs etc.
  • Internet Public Library - annotated links to hundreds of general and highly specialized biography sites around the Web
  • Library Spot - general biographies, by type (artists, authors, etc.) or ethnicity
  • Ref Desk - links to 32 of the best biographical sites, including many sites specifically by subject categories
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Dictionary of national biography, edited by leslie stephen and sidney lee, first edition.

Google Books has various page image formats for all of the volumes, as does the Internet Archive. (The Google Books editions might not be readable in full outside the United States.) We give links to the first edition volumes below.

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Second edition.

Google Books has various page image formats for the original second edition volumes. The Google Books editions might not be readable in full outside the United States. The Internet Archive also has some of the second edition volumes online, without country restrictions. We give links to available second edition volumes below.

Supplementary volumes for the second edition

This is a "meta-book", which stitches together separate files elsewhere on the Web as they appeared in a previously published book. It is subject to removal if someone produces an integrated edition. If that happens, The Online Books Page will point to the integrated version.

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This section features all of the Biography free audio & video learning resources we've featured in our "Free Resource of the Day Emails" over the past many years with reviews of all of our favorite free resources.

In addition to our bi-weekly E-Magazine, LearnOutLoud.com also sends out our "Free Resource of the Day Email" which features one free audio or video learning title that we've added to our site. You can receive our "Free Resource of the Day Email" by entering your Email address into the box on the right, clicking Subscribe, and then checking the "Free Resource of the Day E-mail" check box in the pop up. This email is sent out Monday through Friday and is a great way to discover new audio & video educational content. You'll be informed of audio books, lectures, speeches, sermons, interviews, and much more all which you can listen to or watch for FREE! Below is a sampling of some of the free resources we have offered in the past through our Free Resource of the Day Email.


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27 Best Memoirs: Unforgettable Stories That Inspire

These autobiographies deliver poignant self-reflection, humor, and resilience.

men we reaped, i know why the caged bird sings, year of magical thinking, kitchen confidential, heavy, party of one, memoirs

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Whether it's an account of someone else's childhood adventures, professional triumphs, or personal struggles, these stories are meant to transport you — the reader — to new places and broaden your understanding of the human experience. The memoirs in this roundup resonate deeply and will leave you with a lasting impression you won't be able to unsee in the best possible way. We know you'll appreciate these selections. Memoirs or not, they represent some of the best books ever published .

From juicy tales from celebrities to acclaimed writers to renowned chefs and even lesser-known yet compelling voices, each book offers a unique lens on life. Check out the best memoirs below!

More Books: The Best Books from Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club • 19 Books About the Royal Family • The Juiciest Celebrity Memoirs

Anthony Bourdain "Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Kitchen Underbelly" (2000)

"Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Kitchen Underbelly" (2000)

You’ve probably seen this book on several similar lists, but that’s because it’s endlessly interesting. Bourdain dishes on such a niche culture—that of high-octane kitchens in some of the world’s best restaurants—and doesn’t shy away from some of its ugliest qualities. He gets personal, too, with anecdotes both amusing and somber.

Sonali Deraniyagala "Wave by Sonali Deraniyagala" (2013)

"Wave by Sonali Deraniyagala" (2013)

Sri Lankan writer and economist Sonali Deraniyagala lost her parents, her husband, and her two young sons in the 2004 tsunami that devastated parts of Thailand, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and India. In this relentless memoir, she explores the seemingly bottomless depths of grief and how our power to remember the past can be healing. Readers who love a resolution might look elsewhere, but they’d be missing out on some unflinching, courageous writing.

Roxane Gay "Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body" (2017)

"Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body" (2017)

Widely recommended as one of the best books of 2017, Hunger is Roxane Gay’s raw and powerful memoir about her own self-image and our society’s obsession with appearance. There’s a reason Gay is such a prolific writer today, whether you follow her musings on Twitter or her New York Times column; she is incredibly inquisitive and can make any reader question the status quo. Hunger is no exception.

Jennette McCurdy "I’m Glad My Mom Died" (2022)

"I’m Glad My Mom Died" (2022)

In what was arguably the most talked-about memoir of the past year, actor and writer/director Jennette McCurdy details what went on behind the scenes in her life before, during, and after making the hit Nickelodeon show iCarly . She bears it all—discussing her eating disorder and the toxic relationship she had with her mother—while using pitch perfect humor, in a memoir that’s hard to stomach at times. But it’s worth it to see how she ultimately takes back control of her life.

Patric Gagne "Sociopath: A Memoir" (2024)

"Sociopath: A Memoir" (2024)

"Sociopath: A Memoir" by self-identified Patric Gagne takes a deep dive into the author's life as he navigates the complexities of living with antisocial personality disorder. Gagne, now a writer and mental health advocate, offers an unflinching look at her experiences. Throughout its chapters, she sheds light on the challenges and misunderstandings surrounding sociopathy.

With personal anecdotes and introspective insights, she aims to humanize the condition and foster empathy for others in the same position. For those interested in mental health, it's a crucial read and one of the best memoirs you can opt for, as it provides a rare, authentic perspective on a frequently stigmatized disorder of sociopathy.

Saeed Jones "How We Fight for Our Lives" (2019)

"How We Fight for Our Lives" (2019)

Saeed Jones, an award-winning poet, writes with such a distinct style in this searing memoir about coming of age as a young, black, gay man from the South. He writes about grief, about identity in a world that makes it hard to find one, and about acceptance. It’s a short read in length (at 192 pages) but leaves a memorable impression.

Carmen Maria Machado "In the Dream House" (2019)

"In the Dream House" (2019)

If you want to read a book that turns the concept of a memoir on its head, pick up Carmen Maria Machado’s In the Dream House . While playing with traditional form, Machado delves into the abuse she suffered in a same-sex relationship. She references horror tropes and fairy tales and gives readers a completely vulnerable (and often terrifying) look into a dark and traumatizing experience. We’ve heard the audio version is just as engrossing.

Chanel Miller "Know My Name" (2019)

"Know My Name" (2019)

You might remember Chanel Miller as Emily Doe. After being sexually assaulted by Brock Turner on the Stanford University campus in 2015, she wrote a victim impact statement under this name that reverberated around the world. In this profound memoir, she reclaims her real name and reveals the frustrating truths surrounding victimhood and the criminal justice system. But her writing also divulges her incredible strength—it’s a powerful read that this writer finished in one sitting.

Eric Ripert "32 Yolks: From My Mother’s Table to Working the Line" (2016)

"32 Yolks: From My Mother’s Table to Working the Line" (2016)

Two memoirs on this list from acclaimed chefs? We couldn’t resist. For those who might’ve already enjoyed Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential , might we suggest Eric Ripert’s 32 Yolks . Ripert is, as some will know, the famed French chef behind renowned New York City restaurant Le Bernardin. In this memoir, he chronicles his upbringing in a fractured family in the south of France and how food was always a great comfort. Equal parts fun, infuriating, and awe-inspiring, Ripert includes high-stakes stories from his days in culinary school and working the line at fine dining establishments in Paris.

Jesmyn Ward "Men We Reaped" (2013)

"Men We Reaped" (2013)

For anyone who loves Jesmyn Ward’s renowned novels like Sing, Unburied, Sing or Salvage the Bones , her memoir should be next on your TBR list. Here, she chronicles her upbringing in rural Mississippi and remembers the five men in her life that she lost in the space of four years to suicide, drugs, and sheer bad luck. The most deeply felt is her brother, who was hit by a drunk driver. With beautiful, introspective prose, Ward delves into masculinity, poverty, survivor’s guilt, and loneliness.

Maya Angelou "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" (1969)

"I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" (1969)

An American classic, Maya Angelou ’s debut memoir recounts the acclaimed author ’s childhood and adolescence from Arkansas to Missouri to California. She touches on themes of identity and self-acceptance and recounts the abhorrent racism she and her family experienced, as well as the sexual violence she suffered at the hands of her mother’s boyfriend. But there’s great joy here, too, especially when young Angelou learns to come out of her shell through her love of literature.

Read more about Maya Angelou

Joan Didion "The Year of Magical Thinking" (2005)

"The Year of Magical Thinking" (2005)

From acclaimed writer Joan Didion, The Year of Magical Thinking recounts the sudden death of her husband and the hospitalization of their daughter within days of each other. (Her daughter eventually died at 39, which Didion writes about in Blue Nights .) It’s an engrossing and vulnerable look into a year of experiencing and coping with tragedy—filled, of course, with the writer’s famously incisive prose.

Dave Holmes "Party of One: A Memoir in 21 Songs" (2017)

"Party of One: A Memoir in 21 Songs" (2017)

We all have songs that can conjure specific memories. Writer, comedian, and TV personality Dave Holmes takes that notion to heart in his memoir, where he writes about growing up Catholic and closeted in Missouri and how he “accidentally” became an MTV VJ. There’s a plethora of references to ʼ80s and ʼ90s music and self-deprecating humor that strikes the perfect balance.

Kiese Laymon "Heavy" (2018)

"Heavy" (2018)

With the deeply moving Heavy , Kiese Laymon shares the trials of his upbringing in Jackson, Mississippi. It’s written in the second person, addressing his mother, and it touches on his relationship to his body and how racism permeated his views of himself and the world around him. This modern memoir should be on every reading list.

Tara Westover "Educated" (2018)

"Educated" (2018)

It can be hard at times to read Tara Westover’s bestselling memoir, Educated . Along with her incredible journey to becoming a scholar at Harvard and Cambridge without receiving any kind of formal education, she recounts the psychological and physical abuse she suffered while growing up with her survivalist family in the mountains of Idaho. But it’s an unforgettable story about her will to change the course of her life.

Casey Wilson "The Wreckage of My Presence" (2021)

"The Wreckage of My Presence" (2021)

Reading actress and comedian Casey Wilson’s memoir is like sinking into a comfy couch with your favorite beverage, ready to hear all of your best friend’s exploits. You’ll be laughing out loud during some chapters—whether they’re about her affinity for the Real Housewives franchise or behind-the-scenes moments from the (cut much too short) ABC comedy Happy Endings —then shedding tears the next, as she mourns the death of her mother. This is a quippy, heartwarming addition to any bookshelf.

Michelle Obama "Becoming" (2018)

"Becoming" (2018)

In Michelle Obama 's memoir, "Becoming," the former First Lady of the United States chronicles her journey from growing up on the South Side of Chicago to her time in the White House . Obama shares personal stories about her childhood, education, career, motherhood, and experience as a First Lady.

This powerful and inspiring read gives insights into her challenges and triumphs, including moments in history you might even remember. Her advocacy for education, health, and women's rights are major themes in her book and life. It is a must-read for those interested in personal growth, resilience, and the life of one of the most influential women in recent history.

Read more about Michelle Obama

Drew Barrymore "Wildflower" (2015)

"Wildflower" (2015)

Drew Barrymore's memoir "Wildflower" comprises of personal essays where the actress reflects on her unconventional upbringing , career in Hollywood, and her journey to becoming a successful actress and mother. Through candid and heartfelt stories, she shares the lessons learned from her tumultuous childhood , early fame, and struggles with addiction.

"Wildflower" is an inspiring read for its honesty and resilience, offering an intimate glimpse into her life and evolution into the grounded and joyous adult we see today on her own talk show.

Read more about Drew Barrymore

Glennon Doyle "Untamed" (2020)

"Untamed" (2020)

"Untamed" by Glennon Doyle is a memoir that chronicles the author's journey to find her true self. Doyle, a renowned speaker and activist, shares her experiences with personal struggles, including divorce and coming out. During the process, she learns to trust her inner voice. It's one of the best memoirs you can read because it challenges societal norms, encouraging readers to break free from expectations and live authentically just as Doyle did. With its powerful message of self-discovery and empowerment, "Untamed" is a compelling read for anyone looking to embrace their true identity and find liberation in their own lives.

Sandra Tsing Loh "The Madwoman and the Roomba: My Year of Domestic Mayhem" (2020)

"The Madwoman and the Roomba: My Year of Domestic Mayhem" (2020)

"The Madwoman and the Roomba: My Year of Domestic Mayhem" is a humorous memoir by award-winning columnist Sandra Tsing Loh. The book captures Loh's chaotic and relatable experiences managing household life, technology mishaps, and the everyday challenges of modern domesticity.

Through her witty anecdotes and sharp observations, she explores themes of middle age, parenting, and the absurdities of suburban life. You should read it for its laugh-out-loud humor and keen insights into the trials and tribulations of family and home management. It may even give you a comforting and comedic take on the universal struggles of domestic life if that's where you're at in life.

Headshot of Ysolt Usigan

Ysolt Usigan is a lifestyle writer and editor who has created share-worthy content for publishers like Shape , What To Expect , Cafe Mom , TODAY , CBS News , HuffPo , The Bump , Health , Ask Men , and BestGifts . A working mom of two, her editorial expertise in shopping, parenting, and home are rooted in her everyday life. Her passion is hunting for the best products and sharing them with the masses, so others don't have to waste time and money.

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A selection of biographies about famous sportsmen and sportswomen from the fields of athletics, football, cricket, tennis, boxing, baseball and cycling.

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Biographies for the picture-book set are in abundance, so we pulled out recent titles that got our reviewers' attentions and became stars in the first months of 2024. Use the link for the full review!

It's only July and already it's a banner year for picture book biographies and narrative nonfiction centered around famous people. We pulled out recent titles that got our reviewers' attentions and became stars in the first months of 2024. Use the links for the full reviews!


ALEXANDER, Lori. Cactus Queen: Minerva Hoyt Establishes Joshua Tree National Park. illus. by Jenn Ely. Astra/Calkins Creek. Gr 1-3 –A lively picture book biography with tie-ins to Earth Day and Women’s History Month. Highly recommended.

BAUSUM, Ann. The Bard and the Book . illus. by Marta Sevilla. Peachtree. Gr 5-10 –A voluminous book centering the playwright, along with a group of people who saved him from outright oblivion, this is a sharply funny, delightful must-have for every library shelf.

BURNS, Loree Griffin. One Long Line: Marching Caterpillars and the Scientists Who Followed Them. illus. by Jamie Green. MIT Kids. Gr 3-5 –Burns’s writing style invites readers into a compelling narrative of wonder and discovery.

CLINE-RANSOME, Lesa. Fighting with Love: The Legacy of John Lewis. illus. by James E. Ransome. S. & S. /Paula Wiseman. Gr 1-3 –A strong biography on John Lewis, this highly recommended volume will complement the civil rights shelves as well as collections on Black Americans who worked for the good of the country.

CREWS, Nina. Extraordinary Magic: The Storytelling Life of Virginia Hamilton. Little, Brown/Christy Ottaviano. Gr 1-3 –Purchase this lovely biography as an intro to Hamilton’s work or to encourage future creators. With each page, readers will be inspired to follow their own magic.

DAY, Nicholas. Nothing: John Cage and 4’33”. illus. by Chris Raschka. Holiday House/Neal Porter. Gr 1-5 –A beautifully written and illustrated story of a man who wanted people to explore nothingness, which is a necessity in today’s busy world. A great read-aloud and a must-purchase for all library collections.

FINKELSTEIN, Norman H. Amazing Abe: How Abraham Cahan’s Newspaper Gave a Voice to Jewish Immigrants. illus. by Vesper Stamper. Holiday House. Gr 1-3 –A commendable addition to library collections focused on immigration, little-known historical figures, and the pivotal role of language and the written word in shaping the immigrant experience.

HOYT, Megan. A Grand Idea: How William J. Wilgus Created Grand Central Terminal. illus. by David Szalay. HarperCollins. K-Gr 4 –Whether readers are train and construction buffs or not, this is a living, breathing biography of a building, and the man who believed in it from the ground up. Extraordinary.

KIM, Cheryl. Wat Takes His Shot: The Life & Legacy of Basketball Hero Wataru Misaka. illus. by Nat Iwata. Lee & Low. K-Gr 4 –Readers of all ages, especially those who love basketball, will rejoice over Wat’s triumphs.

KING, Coretta Scott. Coretta: The Autobiography of Mrs. Coretta Scott King. illus. by Ekua Holmes. Macmillan/Godwin. G r 3-5 –A gorgeous book to introduce children to the triumphs and tragedies of one of the Civil Rights Movement’s most avid champions.

LAPATI, Joanna. Guts for Glory: The Story of Civil War Soldier Rosetta Wakeman. Eerdmans. Gr 3-6 –Epic is an overused word—most of the time. It barely begins to explain the tremendous work and vision behind this sensational piece of compelling nonfiction that truly is a picture book for young readers and adults.

LEUNG, Julie. Mr. Pei’s Perfect Shapes: The Story of Architect I. M. Pei. illus. by Yifan Wu. HarperCollins/Quill Tree. PreS-Gr 3 –A fascinating and beautifully illustrated biography of one of our most celebrated architects.

MCDANIEL, Brenna J. Go Forth and Tell: The Life of Augusta Baker, Librarian and Master Storyteller. illus. by April Harrison. Penguin/Dial. K-Gr 4 –An essential purchase not to be missed—what a wonderful person, and what a worthy life.

MEADOWS, Michelle. Jimmy’s Rhythm & Blues: The Extraordinary Life of James Baldwin. illus. by Jamiel Law. HarperCollins. Gr 4-6 –In this stunning picture book biography, Meadows gets into enough detail for readers to understand the nuances of Baldwin’s life without totally overwhelming them.

MEDINA, Uma. Daughter of the Light-Footed People: The Story of Indigenous Marathon Champion Lorena Ramírez. illus. by Natalia Rojas Castro. S. & S. /Atheneum. Gr 1-4 –This is a striking introduction to ultra-marathon runner Lorena Ramírez of the Indigenous Rarámuri people of Mexico. An exceptional addition to all collections.

PIMENTEL, Annette Bay. Los cuentos de Pura Belpré. illus. by Magaly Morales. Vintage Español. SP Gr 1-4 –A biographical text that teaches the importance of inclusion, heritage, and seeing oneself in the stories one reads. A must for biography shelves.

ROCCO, Hayley. Wild Places: The Life of Naturalist David Attenborough. illus. by John Rocco. Putnam. Gr 1-3 –A must-purchase for libraries; children will delight in learning about the “voice of nature.”

ROGERS, Kim. I Am Osage: How Clarence Tinker Became the First Native American Major General. illus. by Bobby Von Martin. HarperCollins/Heartdrum. PreS-Gr 3 –The incredible life story of Clarence Tinker, the first Native American major general in the United State, is an excellent addition to nonfiction collections for young readers.

RUSSELL-BROWN, Katheryn . La pequeña Melba y su gran trombón. tr. from English by Rita Elena Urquijo-Ruiz. illus. by Frank Morrison. Lee & Low. SP K-Gr 4 –A biographical read about a young woman who beat many odds due to her love of music. Perfect for burgeoning musicians and aficionados, and certainly for the nonfiction shelves.

SÁNCHEZ VEGARA, Maria Isabel. Tenzing Norgay. illus. by Bandana Tulachan. Quarto/Frances Lincoln. K-Gr 2 –Well researched and carefully presented, this is a quality introductory biography for young readers.

SMITH, Emma Bland. The Fabulous Fannie Farmer: Kitchen Scientist and America’s Cook. illus. by Susan Reagan. Astra/Calkins Creek. Gr 1-3 –This book rightfully bestows hall-of-fame status on a woman who insisted on accuracy when it came to getting success—not waste—from a recipe every time. For the biography shelves.

STONE, Tanya Lee. Remembering Rosalind Franklin: Rosalind Franklin & the Discovery of the Double Helix Structure of DNA. illus. by Gretchen Ellen Powers. Little, Brown/Christy Ottaviano. K-Gr 4 –While the book’s technical vocabulary and complex scientific concepts may pose a minimal challenge for younger readers, older students with an appreciation for learning about unsung historical figures and an interest in science will find inspiration in Franklin’s resilience.

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  3. Best Biography Books Which Will Change Your Life 🔥📚 || Must-Read Biographies

  4. Free Documentary: Hollywood in the Atomic Age

  5. How to add your biography on Google search

  6. 3 HAUNTING STORIES OF KILLERS (It's Crime Time Baby!) *Marathon*

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  1. Biography Online -Biography Online

    About Biography Online. A collection of biographies about famous, inspirational and influential people, who have helped to shape and change the world. We are continuing to add more biographies over time. The main author of Biography Online is Tejvan Pettinger from Oxford, UK. The site was founded in April 2006.

  2. Free Biography Books

    Free Biographies to Read Online - Free Autobiography Books - P, Q & R. Page, Larry Paine, Ralph Delahaye Paine, Thomas Parkman, Francis Pasteur, Louis Patrick, Saint St. Vincent de Paul Pauley, Jane Penn, William Pennell, Elizabeth Robins Pepys, Samuel Perry, Oliver Hazard Peter I, the Great, Emperor of Russia Petrarca, Francesco Pitt, William,

  3. Best 62+ Biography & Autobiography Books (Free PDF Download)

    Download and read our FREE biographies, autobiographies, memoirs and life story books. All legally Licensed for instant download in PDF ePub, & Kindle formats. Menu. Free Fiction ... There are many biography books at obooko and this just gives a flavour of the diverse range of online story books that are available. Some will inspire you to want ...

  4. American National Biography

    Welcome to American National Biography Online. The life of a nation is told by the lives of its people Over 19,000 biographies of significant, influential or notorious figures from American history written by prominent scholars; Life of the day now available as an email to your inbox or by RSS feed; Learn about our editors and the Letter from the General Editor Miroslava Chávez-García.

  5. Biography: Historical and Celebrity Profiles

    Read exclusive biographies, watch videos, and discover fascinating stories about your favorite icons, musicians, authors, and historical figures.

  6. Top Free Biographies

    Life Of John Sterling. Thomas Carlyle. More free biography books. From presidents to artists, I've collected the best biographies and memoirs ever written that are free to read. Read online for free.

  7. Famous people categories

    People who changed the world - Famous people who changed the course of history including Socrates, Newton, Jesus Christ, Muhammad, Queen Victoria, Catherine the Great, Einstein and Gandhi. Women who changed the world - Famous women who changed the world. Features female Prime Ministers, scientists, cultural figures, authors and royalty. Includes; Cleopatra, Princess Diana, Marie Curie ...

  8. Marquis Biographies Online

    Marquis Biographies Online. MBO is the only resource to contain the over 1.6 million biographies from the Marquis Who's Who Publications such as Who's Who in America®, Who's Who in the World®, and many more! Inside you'll find the world's most successful professionals from around the globe as well as prominent historical figures ...

  9. Free Online Biography Books

    Free online biography books. Ailes, Roger Eugene (1940-2017) Louisa May Alcott, Her Life, Letters, and Journals Cheney, E. D., ed. Little 1900 Dewey Dec. Biography "Pictures the home life of the author of Little Women, her experiences as an army nurse, struggles as an author, and numerous incidents in a crowded life." ...

  10. Free Online Autobiographies

    Free online autobiographies, biographies I, J, K, L. One webpage of more than a dozen with many free online biographies and memoirs.

  11. Books in Biographies (sorted by popularity)

    The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) Volume I. Theophilus Cibber 212 downloads. Martin Luther Carl E. Koppenhaver 205 downloads. Knights of Art: Stories of the Italian Painters Amy Steedman 204 downloads. Who Was Who: 5000 B. C. to Date 193 downloads. Eugene Field, a Study in Heredity and Contradictions — Volume 2 Slason ...

  12. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin

    Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by volunteers.

  13. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

    Welcome to Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Over 65,000 biographies, 75 million words, 12,000 portraits of significant, influential or notorious figures who shaped British history - perform advanced search. Life of the day now available by email or RSS feed. Learn about our editors and read the Letter from the General Editor Professor ...

  14. Biographies

    Read, borrow, and discover more than 3M books for free. It looks like you're offline. Donate ♥. Čeština (cs) Deutsch (de) ... Biographies 23877 works Search for books with subject Biographies. Search for books with subject Biographies. Search. Not in Library. Borrow. Borrow. Borrow. Preview Only.

  15. List of Top 100 Famous People

    Oprah Winfrey (1954 - ) American TV presenter, actress, entrepreneur. Indira Gandhi (1917 - 1984) Prime Minister of India 1966 - 1977. Eva Peron (1919 - 1952) First Lady of Argentina 1946 - 1952. Benazir Bhutto (1953 - 2007) Prime Minister of Pakistan 1993 - 1996. George Orwell (1903 - 1950) British author.

  16. Biography Books

    FreeEBooks.com offers a wide selection of very well-known biographies, autobiographies, and authorized biographies all free to download. It is an online bookstore that offers instant downloads to a wide selection of e-books including biographies, autobiographies and authorized biographies. What is a Biography?

  17. The 30 Best Biographies of All Time

    12. The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon by David Grann. Another mysterious explorer takes center stage in this gripping 2009 biography. Grann tells the story of Percy Fawcett, the archaeologist who vanished in the Amazon along with his son in 1925, supposedly in search of an ancient lost city.

  18. Biography Research Guide: Free Biography Sites

    The Biographical Dictionary - covers more than 28,000 notable men and women who have shaped our world from ancient times to the present day. Biographical Guide to Congress - standard in most library reference collections in print form; online edition covers 1774 - present. Search by name, state, party, year or Congressional session.

  19. Dictionary of National Biography

    The Online Books Page. presents. Dictionary of National Biography edited by Leslie Stephen and Sidney Lee. The Dictionary of National Biography (or DNB) is a biographical reference for deceased persons notable in British history. The current edition of this work has been published online by Oxford University Press since 2004. The current electronic edition is not free, but is available through ...

  20. Free Biographies Online

    Free Biographies Online. This section features all of the Biography free audio & video learning resources we've featured in our "Free Resource of the Day Emails" over the past many years with reviews of all of our favorite free resources. In addition to our bi-weekly E-Magazine, LearnOutLoud.com also sends out our "Free Resource of the Day ...

  21. Biographies for kids: Inventors, World Leaders, Women, Civil Rights

    Learn the life story and biography of influencial people: US Presidents, World Leaders, Inventors, Women, Artists, Civil Rights heroes. History Biography Geography Science Games. Search Ducksters: Biographies. Biographies by Date Biographies Alphabetical. Pick the person or subject below to view biography or list of biographies: ...

  22. The 27 Best Memoirs to Read in 2024

    These autobiographies deliver poignant self-reflection, humor, and resilience.

  23. Sporting Biographies

    A selection of biographies about famous sportsmen and sportswomen from the fields of athletics, football, cricket, tennis, boxing, baseball and cycling. Athletics Roger Bannister (1929 - ) (Great Britain, athletics) Roger Bannister became the first athlete to run a sub-four minute mile in Oxford, 1954. Usain Bolt (1986 - ) (Jamaica, athletics) Usain Bolt holds […]

  24. 22 Recent Picture Book Biographies of Fascinating People

    ALEXANDER, Lori. Cactus Queen: Minerva Hoyt Establishes Joshua Tree National Park. illus. by Jenn Ely. Astra/Calkins Creek. Gr 1-3-A lively picture book biography with tie-ins to Earth Day and Women's History Month.Highly recommended. BAUSUM, Ann. The Bard and the Book. illus. by Marta Sevilla. Peachtree.

  25. Biography

    Free Kids Books. Categories: Age 10-13 years, Age 6-9 years, All FKB Books, Biography, Children, Creative Commons, Danielle Bruckert, Diversity and Differences, Editor's Picks, Emotions, Free Kids Books, Grade 4 to Grade 6, Helen Keller, Intermediate English, Non-Fiction, Older Children. In What is Love - a children's biography of Helen ...